Refrigerator



M. J. MGNEIL.

REFRIGBRATOR.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 14, 1896.

UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE.

MURDOCII J. MCNEIL, OF LINCOLN, NEWv HAMPSHIRE.

REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFI'ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,175, dated January 14, 1896. Application filed October 17, 1895l Serial No. 565,992. (No model.)

T0 LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MUEDOCH J. MCNEIL, formerly of Nova Scotia, but having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in refrigerators, and especially in that class of refrigerators intended for use with butter, cream, or other like articles, which readily absorb the odor and avor of other articles that may have been placed in the refrigerator at some prior time.

The said invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.-

Figure l represents a front View of the improved refrigerator. Fig. 2 represents a section along the line 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 represents a section along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and looking down, and Fig. 4 represents a section along the line 4 et of Fig. 2, and looking down.

A represents a box or casing made of wood or other non-conducting material and provided with four corner-posts A2 and four bottom boards A' curved upward, as at a, and united at their lower outer ends to form steps for the casters a.

B represents the bottom of the refrigerator, which is made of wood or other suitable nonconducting material, and is faced with plates of glass b. The center of this bottom is cut away, as at bo, which open space is inclosed by the frame b2, over which frame is provided a sloping cap-piece b3. Beneath the said frame the opening 120 is closed by the bottom plate B', which is provided with a drain-pipe b for the water formed by the melting of the ice. Two of the sides of the refrigerator are closed by glass panels C, while the opposite sides are closed by the swinging doors D, which are also provided with glass panels cl, by means of which four panels the interior of the refrigerator is at all times kept well lighted, while at the same time the glass is a sufficiently good non-conductor of heat, and also retains the cold air within the refrigerator.

The top of the refrigerator is closed by the doors E which open upward, as shown in Fig. 2..

F represents a frame set across I(he refrigerator toward the upper end thereof, and covered with a floor of zinc f or other metal. This iloor is also cut away in its center, the hole formed therein being surrounded by the square frame f', while two of the outer ends of the floor do not extend entirely out to the casing A, leaving air-passages f 0 to allow for the circulation of air in the refrigerator. Around the outer ends of the rectangular floor is a chock f2 to support'the outer edges of the metal ice-bottom H, on which the ice is supported. By means of these chocks the said bottom I-l is made somewhat funnel-shaped, and the water from the melting ice iiows down into the central chamber and out through the drain-pipe b. Two of the outer edges of the ice-bottom Il are turned up, as shown at 7L, to allow the circulation of air between the said ends and the casing A.

A number of stout metal bars K are secured between the frame f' and the frame b2,which bars should be close enough to prevent any considerable portions or corners of the ice from projecting far enough between the said bars to strike and break the inner glass panels L, which are also secured between the said frames f and the bottom of the refrigerator parallel to said bar.

It will thus be seen that a refrigerator is provided in which there is a central ice-cham ber for the smaller blocks of ice m, which chamber is formed with glass walls and metal bars protecting the said walls, while the major portion of the ice, in the form of the blocks M, is placed in the upper chamber. In this manner an extremely neat-looking, showy, and eflicient refrigerator is provided, eminently adapted for the preservation and exhibition of butter, cream, fruits, game, or other food products.

The boards forming the bottom B and also the side panels C are detachably connected, as by means of screws, to the refrigerator, so that they may be readily removed and new IOO panes of glass substituted in case the old ones i are broken. Moreover, the bottom H is detachably mounted inthe upper icechamber, whereby it may be taken out and cleaned and the bottom plates f may be cleaned when desired.

It will be seen that nearly all of the inner surface of the refrigerating-chamber is lined with glass, which is absolutely non-absorbent of the flavors or odors given out by the various articles which may be placed in the refrigerator.

The various other advantages of the herein-d escribed construction and arrangement of parts will readilysuggest themselves to any practical mind.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A refrigerator provided with an upper ice chamber with a sloping' bottom, with a perforation in the center thereof, a central ice chamber located below said perforation and provided with a drain pipe, with metal bars surrounding said chamber, and glass panels exterior to said bars, a glass covered bottom surrounding the lower end of said central ice chamber, and glass panels in the sides of the refrigerator, exterior to said central ice chamber, substantially as described.

2. A refrigerator provided with an upper ice chamber having a funnel-shaped bottom with an opening in the center thereof, a central ice chamber located below said opening and provided with a drain pipe, metal bars surrounding said chamber, and glass panels exterior to said bars, a glass covered bottom in the lower portion of said refrigerator, glass panels extending from said bottom to the base of the upper ice chamber, and swinging glass doors provided on the opposite sides between said panels, substantially as described.

3. Arefrigerator provided with an upper ice chamber having a funnel-shaped bottom with an opening in the center thereof, and air passages between the outer edges of the said bottom, and the inner walls of the refrigerator, a central ice chamber located below said opening and provided with a drain pipe, metal bars surrounding said central chamber, glass panels exterior to said bars, and shutting in the said central chamber, a glass covered bottom in the lower portion of said refrigerator, glass panels extending from said bottom to the base of the upper ice chamber, and swinging glass doors provided on the opposite sides between said panels, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MURDOCH J. MCNEIL. Witnesses:

WM. S. GRAssiE, WALTER E. BURKE. 

